Saturday, April 29, 2023

"Pretty flowers, let's kill then."

The tiny tree has a nice knot but an inexplicable flying knot with carabiner and clove hitch.

Freshly picked and discarded.
 

Beware the "INSTRUCTOR."

 

Thin cord with a critical single carabiner.

More cord, anchors over 90 degrees apart.

This is a solo climber's anchor. It will get weighted, the materials have minimal safety margin. Note the hollow tree at right.

The tiny tree at right is the primary anchor, it is wrapped up like a mummy, but it isn't a tensionless anchor. The guy's red shirt reads "INSTRUCTOR".

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Nobody had to be raised from the dead.

Thjere's a knot here, though its purpose is unclear.

The dead tree still speaks to some.

You need the flying rock anchor because...

Your tree anchor is bullshit.

The dead tree has a bowline without a backup knot

When the rope mess isn't enough add a hex with lots of non-locking carabiners.

This fell out of the sky without warning. When you say "rope" to yourself it doesn't count.

 

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Never use a clove hitch, here's why.

 

Looks like a bowline, a figure 8, carabiner and clove hitch.

It started as a clove hitch, that's what happens when it is loaded and unloaded, jut like any top rope anchor.

Worse when attached to a shoelace.

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Spring arrives.

 

Don't buy crap from Amazon. This rope isn't certified for climbing, you can't tie a knot worth a damn with an eyelet in the end

Using thin gear for a top rope anchor gets expensive, abrasion will wear it out quickly.

Amazingly, that tiny horn has survived years of use. I won't push my luck using it.

More shoelace on tree roots.

Buy a real anchor.

Don't lead at Carderock, the rock breaks. He's undoubtedly putting in a piece, because nothing will stop him from hitting the ground. Look at the flaring top of the crack. Nothing will go in there, right when you need it. This is called Tibia Fibula Crack, that's what you will break when you fall.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Leave your hammock home.

 

They picked all the limbs off a slash pile so they could hang their hammock. It's not about your hammock, Carderock is too crowded.

Way up the tree and two unnecessary links in the belay chain.

Shoelaces don't make good anchors. It isn't just about strength, think about abrasion .

Monday, February 13, 2023

Clove hitches suck.

The runner and single carabiner aren't necessary and addd points of failure. Clove hitches are OK if they are right in front of you, not far away where you can't examine tightness. The loose when weighted and unweighted, just like a top rope anchor.


Another clove hitch. Not the worst chock placement, those rocks could be big enough to resist being pulled apart.